Veljusa Monastery is located at altitude 400 meters above sea level, 8 km west of Strumica city. It is an active female monastery dedicated to St. Mary. The monastery church was erected by the monk Manuel in 1080.
Preserved to this day, the church is an excellent representative of the high achievements of the Byzantine sacral architecture in the Middle Ages.
The interior of the church was fresco painted in three time periods, in 1085, 1164. and in the XIX century. Particularly interesting is the representation of Jesus Christ in the dome, where he is portrayed as a child of 12, which is a real rarity.
The monastery is dedicated to the birth of St. Mary and celebrates the “Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary” (Mala Bogorodica) on September 21st (Macedonian Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar).
- Photos: OFF ROAD Macedonia…
Location
Location of Veljusa Monastery
The monastery is located 8 km west of Strumica in the village of Veljusa. The road is asphalted through the village is narrow and steep and is not suitable for buses and larger vehicles. There is a small parking lot in front of the monastery.